Curfew In Violence-Hit Odisha’s Sambalpur During Hanuman Jayanti

Indians can’t celebrate their festivals peacefully in their own country due to consistent communal violences. This happened again on Hanuman Jayanti, after Ram Navami.

On Friday, hundreds of devotees participated in processions to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti amidst tight security measures in the violent city of Sambalpur. 

Before the evening march, the state government stationed roughly 1,500 security officers in the city, and the “Maha Arati” event, which served as the highlight of the festivities, was held in the presence of a sizable posse of security personnel. 

The processions, which began at the Brukspal Hanuman temple in the evening and passed through regions at risk, included 35 groups celebrating Hanuman Jayanti.

Senior officers who were on the streets to ensure orderly processions included District Collector Ananya Das, DIG (North Central), Brijesh Ray, and Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar.

Prior to Hanuman Jayanti, a bike rally in the western Odisha city on Wednesday saw fighting between two communities.

Many cars were damaged, and some stores were set on fire as the altercation spread to the streets. 

Ten police officers in total and approximately 12 members of the Hanuman Jayanti coordination committee, including its acting president Damodar Kar, were hurt during the altercation when stones were thrown.

A total of 32 people were detained and imprisoned on rioting charges in Sambalpur. Since Thursday, internet services have been suspended to stop the spread of violence in the area, and the whole city is under CCTV surveillance to track the movements of troublemakers. 

In order to give the populace confidence, security forces conducted a flag march on Thursday while also conducting foot patrols in Sambalpur city, where the prohibition order under section 144 of the CrPC also continued to be in effect.

Prior to the Hanuman Jayanti processions on Friday, security was stepped up in six sensitive districts of the state against the backdrop of the violence in Sambalpur. 

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According to a senior police officer, security has been stepped up in the districts of Bhadrak, Balasore, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Nabarangpur, and Jeypore in Koraput to ensure the procession’s orderly passage. 

Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, “Odisha is a peaceful state. Throwing stones on a festival like Hanuman Jayanti, is not acceptable to either Odisha or any part of the country.”